From the archives — Are we stronger than He?

Six years ago, we published this paper by David Short, Rector of St. John’s Shaughnessy in Vancouver. It’s a good reminder of what is (still) at stake around the Anglican Communion. PDF file here.

(The paper was first delivered at The National Canadian Anglican Essentials Conference in Ottawa on August 31, 2004.)

Taking Christ’s church seriously – a tonic for the confused and disenchanted

“Talk about refreshing! I was recently encouraged to read the relatively recent book by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion (Chicago: Moody Press, 2009). It helped that the person recommending the book was my principal, John Woodhouse. He said I’d like it. And he was right.

Book endorsements, in my experience, seem to be getting more and more out of touch with reality. They make grand claims which just aren’t met when you shell out the money and buy the book. But on this occasion the endorsements by J. I. Packer — ‘As I read, I wanted to stand up and cheer’, by Mark Dever — the authors are ‘theologically faithful, fresh, and insightful’, and Al Mohler — ‘a powerful word of correction, offering compelling arguments and a vision of church life that is not only convincing, but inspirational’ all hold up. I was genuinely excited by what I read. …”

– Mark Thompson hopes you will read the book and stand up and cheer with Jim Packer.

(Best prices here.)

The emergence of legal Christian publishing in China

“About the year 2003 it became possible to legally publish some forms of Christian literature in the People’s Republic of China.

Ten years ago, legal Christian publishing was barely on the radar screen, but today the situation is far different. The demographic and publishing statistics are staggering…”

– There are important publishing opportunities in China, according to this article from the current The Banner of Truth Magazine, republished by Desiring God.

Judge rules against Christians in UK B&B case

“The Christian owners of a guesthouse who restrict double rooms to married couples have been ordered to pay £3,600 in damages to a homosexual couple, but leave to appeal has been granted.

Earlier today His Hon. Judge Andrew Rutherford declared it was unlawful for Peter and Hazelmary Bull to operate their policy and deny a double room to civil partners Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy.

The judge ruled that under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations, introduced under the previous Government, civil partnerships must be treated in the same way as marriage…”

– report from The Christian Institute. (h/t Anglican Mainstream.)

Dever on Conversion and Evangelism

Last October, Mark Dever spoke on ‘Conversion and Evangelism’ at Boyce College, on the campus of the Southern Baptist Seminary.

The 18 minute talk is a 6.2MB download. The end of the talk is cut off, but the message is a straightforward reminder of the necessity of conversion.
(h/t Faith by Hearing.)

ANiC Parishes file application for Leave to Appeal to Supreme Court of Canada

Parishes File Application for Leave to Appeal to Supreme Court of Canada

News Release from the Anglican Network in Canada

14 January 2011

“Today, the Trustees of four Vancouver-area Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) churches filed an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, the BC Court of Appeal decision (November 15, 2010) which removed their right to use their church buildings and awarded the church properties to the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) Diocese of New Westminster. The four churches are St John’s (Shaughnessy), St Matthews (Abbotsford), Good Shepherd (Vancouver), and St Matthias & St Luke’s (Vancouver).    Read more

Unconsciously recasting the nature of gospel ministry

“Back in Jerusalem, in the early days of the Christian church, the apostles devoted themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word of God (Acts 6:4). Later, the apostle Paul dedicated himself to proclaiming the crucified Christ (1 Cor. 2:1-5) and spoke insistently of his prayers for those with whom he had shared the gospel (Phil. 1:3-11; Eph. 1:15-23; 3:14-18; etc.) This was the pattern of ministry that Paul commended to those to whom he gave responsibility among the churches (1 Tim. 4:11-16). …

In an era when some fear their backs are against the wall and that we must do everything in our power to arrest Christianity’s slide into oblivion, the temptation to rework this classic understanding of Christian ministry is felt keenly…”

– Mark Thompson reflects on the not-so-subtle pressures to change the nature of gospel ministry.

CMS NSW Summer School concludes

CMS NSW Summer School at Katoomba has concluded. Hugh Palmer, Rector of All Souls in London gave the Bible Studies, based in 1 Corinthians. Starting this evening, Hugh is speaking at CMS Victoria’s “Summer Under the Sun”.

CMS NSW has made available the audio of his first talk – on 1 Corinthians 15. Well worth hearing.

Queensland flood appeal

The Archbishop of Sydney has launched an appeal – through Anglican Aid – for victims of the Queensland Floods.

Story from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

2010 Reform National Conference

Continuing our links to resources you may find helpful, the 2010 Reform National Conference was held at the High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire last October. The theme was ‘The counter-cultural church’.

Talks and other downloads are available from Reform.

Pastoral moves — latest 9Marks eJournal

Looking for a new minister?

Ministers, are you thinking of moving? Or wondering about staying?

The latest eJournal from 9Marks addresses these questions and gives some wise counsel.

Pastors Going
Leave Your Church Well
Prepare the Church for the Next Guy
Book Review: Handle That New Call With Care

Pastors Coming
What’s Wrong With Search Committees?
What’s Right About Elders?
What Not to do when You’re the New Guy
You Might Have the Wrong Candidate If…

Tips for an Interim Pastor
Pastors Staying
Staying to the Glory of God: One Preacher’s Death Wish
Staying for the Glory of God: The Sibbes, Simeon and Stott Model

All this and more at 9Marks.

Think! 2010 Desiring God conference

The 2010 Desiring God National Conference (“Think!”) was held last October. All the audio and video (large files!) is at the Desiring God website.

Todd Shaffer at Faith by Hearing recommends all the talks, with just one slight hesitation. See what you think.

Prayer urged for Sudan

Prayer is urged for Sudan, with a crucial referendum taking place today. Details from SydneyAnglicans.net.

The Christian Worldview as Master Narrative

“Even as the Bible begins the story with creation, it immediately moves to an explanation of what has gone wrong. Again, such an account is required of every worldview, and every philosophy of life must provide some explanation for why human beings are as we are and why we act as we act.

The Bible directs those who asked this question to the Garden of Eden and to the event we know as the Fall…”

– Albert Mohler on the Bible’s unique view of our world.

Euthanasia: The Patient and the right of ‘Advance Directives’

“Dr Megan Best suggests that while Christians believe that we are not free to take the life of another person, this does not mean that we must prolong life at all costs. Nor does it mean that the patient has no rights to cease treatment or give directions about their last days of life…”

– Dr Trevor Cairney at the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education has some very helpful resources from palliative care doctor Megan Best at the Just in CASE blog.

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